Workpiece for producing a firearm

ABSTRACT

Workpieces for producing a firearm have an elongated body defined within a cross-sectional profile with a first elongated passage configured to receive the upper portion of the bolt, and with a second elongated passage configured to receive the lower portion of the bolt, and the elongated body having a separator between the first elongated passage and the second elongated passage and configured to prevent installation of the bolt assembly when the separator is present, and to enable installation of the bolt assembly when the separator is absent. The cross-sectional profile may be along the entire length of the elongated body. The cross-sectional profile may fully encompass the first elongated passage. The first elongated passage may be open only at the ends of the elongated body. The cross-sectional profile may have a U-shaped cross-section.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.17/335,281 filed on Jun. 1, 2021, entitled “WORKPIECE FOR PRODUCING AFIREARM,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety forall that is taught and disclosed therein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to firearms, and more particularly to aworkpiece for producing a firearm that preserves a denial featureconfigured to prevent installation of at least one of a bolt assemblyand a barrel assembly in the workpiece.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Workpieces for producing a firearm are workpieces that have beenmachined to form selected limited features, but have not yet reached astage of manufacture to be legally considered a firearm. The Gun ControlAct of 1968 does not impose restrictions on receiver blanks that do notmeet the legal definition of a firearm, enabling anyone to purchase themin most jurisdictions. The purchaser can, in most jurisdictions, legallymachine the receiver blank into a functioning firearm for personal usewithout being required to possess a Federal Firearms License, pass abackground check, fill out a Firearm Transaction Record, Form 4473, orapply a serial number to the firearm. However, the purchaser cannotlegally make the receiver blank into a firearm with the intent to sellit without possessing a Federal Firearms License, or if they are aprohibited person.

To ensure the receiver blank is not legally considered a firearm, manymanufacturers leave significant parts of the receiver blank completelysolid. However, this requires the purchaser to possess expensivemachining tools and considerable skill to machine the receiver blankinto a functioning firearm.

Therefore, a need exists for a new and improved workpiece for producinga firearm that ensures the receiver blank is not legally considered afirearm by including a denial feature configured to prevent installationof at least one of a bolt assembly and a barrel assembly in theworkpiece, while enabling the purchaser to not require highlysophisticated machining tools and skills to remove the denial feature toproduce a functioning firearm. The present invention substantiallydeparts from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, andin doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose ofenabling the purchaser to not require highly sophisticated machiningtools to remove a denial feature to produce a functioning firearm, yetstill not be readily convertible to a firearm by itself.

The present invention provides an improved workpiece for producing afirearm, and overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and drawbacksof the prior art. As such, the general purpose of the present invention,which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide animproved workpiece for producing a firearm that has all the advantagesof the prior art mentioned above.

To attain this, the preferred embodiment of the present inventionessentially comprises an elongated body defined within a cross-sectionalprofile with a first elongated passage configured to receive the upperportion of the bolt, and with a second elongated passage configured toreceive the lower portion of the bolt, and the elongated body having aseparator between the first elongated passage and the second elongatedpassage and configured to prevent installation of the bolt assembly whenthe separator is present, and to enable installation of the boltassembly when the separator is absent. The cross-sectional profile maybe along the entire length of the elongated body. The cross-sectionalprofile may fully encompass the first elongated passage. The firstelongated passage may be open only at the ends of the elongated body.The cross-sectional profile may have a U-shaped cross section. Thereare, of course, additional features of the invention that will bedescribed hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of theclaims attached.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the invention in order that the detailed description thereofthat follows may be better understood and in order that the presentcontribution to the art may be better appreciated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top isometric view of the current embodiment of a workpiecefor producing a firearm constructed in accordance with the principles ofthe present invention having been machined and assembled into afunctioning firearm.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the functioning firearm of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3A is a cross-section view of the workpiece for producing a firearmof FIG. 1 showing a raw extrusion profile prior to any machining.

FIG. 3B is a cross-section view of the workpiece for producing a firearmof FIG. 1 after initial machining by the manufacturer to form selectedlimited features while preserving a denial feature.

FIG. 3C is a cross-section view of the workpiece for producing a firearmof FIG. 1 after initial machining by the manufacturer showing how entryof the bolt carrier is denied. The dashed lines indicate how the denialfeature is removed by subsequent machining by the purchaser to permitentry of the bolt carrier.

FIG. 4 is a cross-section view of the functioning firearm of FIG. 1showing how a denial feature interferes with an auto-sear should one beimproperly present in the trigger module.

FIG. 5A is a bottom isometric view of the workpiece for producing afirearm of FIG. 1 after initial machining by the manufacturer to formselected limited features while preserving a denial feature.

FIG. 5B is a bottom isometric view of the workpiece for producing afirearm of FIG. 1 after subsequent machining by the purchaser to removethe denial feature.

FIG. 6A is a bottom fragmentary view of the workpiece for producing afirearm of FIG. 1 after initial machining by the manufacturer to formselected limited features while preserving a denial feature thatprevents installation of the barrel assembly.

FIG. 6B is an exploded bottom fragmentary view of the workpiece forproducing a firearm, barrel assembly, and screws of FIG. 1 showing howthe barrel assembly is inserted and secured within the workpiece aftersubsequent machining by the purchaser to remove the denial feature.

FIG. 7 is a right side fragmentary view of the workpiece for producing afirearm of FIG. 1 after subsequent machining by the purchaser showinghow the screw holes on the workpiece and the barrel assembly areintentionally misaligned to force the barrel assembly down and rearwardas the screws are tightened.

FIG. 8A is a cross-section view of the workpiece for producing a firearmof FIG. 1 showing the barrel assembly inserted and secured within theworkpiece after subsequent machining by the purchaser to remove thedenial feature.

FIG. 8B is a cross-section view of the workpiece for producing a firearmof FIG. 1 showing the barrel assembly inserted and secured within theworkpiece after subsequent machining by the purchaser to remove thedenial feature.

FIG. 8C is a cross-section view of the workpiece for producing a firearmof FIG. 1 showing the barrel assembly inserted and secured within theworkpiece after subsequent machining by the purchaser to remove thedenial feature.

FIG. 8D is a cross-section view of the workpiece for producing a firearmof FIG. 1 showing the barrel assembly inserted and secured within theworkpiece after subsequent machining by the purchaser to remove thedenial feature.

FIG. 9A is a cross-section view of a first alternative embodiment of theworkpiece for producing a firearm of FIG. 1 showing a raw extrusionprofile prior to any machining.

FIG. 9B is a cross-section view of a second alternative embodiment ofthe workpiece for producing a firearm of FIG. 1 showing a raw extrusionprofile prior to any machining.

FIG. 9C is a cross-section view of a third alternative embodiment of theworkpiece for producing a firearm of FIG. 1 showing a raw extrusionprofile prior to any machining.

FIG. 9D is a cross-section view of a fourth alternative embodiment ofthe workpiece for producing a firearm of FIG. 1 showing a raw extrusionprofile prior to any machining.

FIG. 9E is a cross-section view of a fifth alternative embodiment of theworkpiece for producing a firearm of FIG. 1 showing a raw extrusionprofile prior to any machining.

FIG. 9F is a cross-section view of a sixth alternative embodiment of theworkpiece for producing a firearm of FIG. 1 showing a raw extrusionprofile prior to any machining.

FIG. 9G is a cross-section view of a seventh alternative embodiment ofthe workpiece for producing a firearm of FIG. 1 showing a raw extrusionprofile prior to any machining.

FIG. 9H is a cross-section view of a eighth alternative embodiment ofthe workpiece for producing a firearm of FIG. 1 showing a raw extrusionprofile prior to any machining.

FIG. 9I is a cross-section view of a ninth alternative embodiment of theworkpiece for producing a firearm of FIG. 1 showing a raw extrusionprofile prior to any machining.

The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout thevarious figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT EMBODIMENT

An embodiment of the workpiece for producing a firearm of the presentinvention is shown and generally designated by the reference numeral 10.

FIGS. 1 & 2 illustrate the improved workpiece for producing a firearm 10of the present invention. More particularly, FIG. 1 shows the workpiecefor producing a firearm in use having been machined by a firstmanufacturer and a second manufacturer and assembled by the secondmanufacturer into a functioning firearm 100. The workpiece serves as anupper receiver and has a front 12, rear 14, top 16, bottom 18, left side20, and right side 22. A front plate 24 is attached to the front, and arear plate 26 is attached to the rear. A trigger module 28 is attachedto the bottom rear of the workpiece. A barrel assembly 30 is attached tothe front of the workpiece forward of the trigger module. The workpieceis an elongated body defined within a cross-sectional profile with afirst elongated passage 34 and a second elongated passage 36. A boltassembly 38 has a lower bolt portion 40 including a bolt 42 and an upperportion 44 joined to the lower bolt portion at a junction portion 46.The upper portion of the bolt is received within the first elongatedpassage, and the lower portion of the bolt is received within the secondelongated passage. A rear plate adapter 48 that accepts a pistol braceor stock (not shown) is attached to the rear plate. A charging handle 50protrudes from either the left, right, or both sides of the workpiece.The trigger module 28 ordinarily has a semi-automatic trigger group,including a semi-automatic sear, installed. However, in the event anautomatic trigger group were to be improperly installed in the triggermodule, an automatic sear 52 would be present as illustrated. In thecurrent embodiment, the main components of the functioning firearm (thebarrel assembly, trigger module, and upper receiver) are FabriqueNationale (Herstal, Belgium) format and are not compatible with AR-15parts. However, AR-15 accessories such as stocks, triggers, and sights,may be compatible with the functioning firearm.

FIGS. 3A-C illustrate the improved workpiece for producing a firearm 10of the present invention at various stages of manufacture. FIG. 3A showsthe workpiece after a first manufacturer has extruded the workpiece witha selected raw extrusion profile, with no machining having taken place.At this stage, the workpiece is not legally a firearm. FIG. 3B shows theworkpiece after the first manufacturer has machined the workpiece toform selected limited features while preserving a denial featureconfigured to prevent installation of at least one of the bolt assembly38 and the barrel assembly 30 in the workpiece. At this stage, theworkpiece is still not legally a firearm. FIG. 3C shows the how thedenial feature prevents installation of the bolt assembly. The dashedportions of FIGS. 3B & C indicate where the second manufacturer, thepurchaser, additionally machines the workpiece to remove the denialfeature so the bolt assembly can be installed. At that point, theworkpiece is legally a firearm.

The workpiece 10 has a separator 54 between the first elongated passage34 and the second elongated passage 36. The separator, which is anunfinished bolt rail in the current embodiment, serves as a denialfeature and is configured to prevent installation of the bolt assembly38 when the separator is present and to enable installation of the boltassembly when the separator is absent. The separator defines a gap 64larger than the junction portion 46 of the bolt assembly.

FIG. 4 illustrates the improved workpiece for producing a firearm 10 ofthe present invention. More particularly, FIG. 4 shows the workpiece forproducing a firearm in use having been machined and assembled into afunctioning firearm 100. The trigger module 28 ordinarily has asemi-automatic trigger group, including a semi-automatic sear,installed. However, in the event an automatic trigger group were to beimproperly installed in the trigger module, an automatic sear 52 wouldbe present as illustrated. FIG. 4 shows how an interference 56 protrudesinwardly from the bottom right of the workpiece to interfere with theautomatic sear and prevent the lower sear from attaching to theworkpiece when an automatic trigger group is improperly present. Theinterference ensures the functioning firearm cannot be converted tofully automatic fire, which would make the functioning firearm illegal.

FIGS. 5A & B illustrate the improved workpiece for producing a firearm10 of the present invention at various stages of manufacture. FIG. 5Ashows the workpiece after the first manufacturer has machined the rawextrusion profile of the workpiece shown in FIG. 3A to form selectedlimited features while preserving a denial feature configured to preventinstallation of at least one of the bolt assembly 38 and the barrelassembly 30 in the workpiece as shown in FIG. 3B. At this stage, theworkpiece is still not legally a firearm. FIG. 5B shows the workpiecewhere the second manufacturer, the purchaser, has additionally machinedthe workpiece to remove the denial feature as shown by the dashedportions of FIG. 3C so the bolt assembly and the barrel assembly can beinstalled in the workpiece. At that point, the workpiece is legally afirearm. The additional machining shown in FIG. 5B includes removal ofthe separator 54 to enable installation of the bolt assembly andcreation of barrel relief cuts 58, barrel notch 60, and countersunkscrew holes 62 to enable installation of the barrel assembly.

It should be appreciated the cross-sectional profile is along the entirelength of the workpiece. The cross-sectional profile fully encompassesthe first elongated passage 34. The first elongated passage is open atthe front and rear ends 12, 14 of the workpiece as well as variouspoints along the sides of the workpiece. The cross-sectional profile hasa U-shaped cross-section and an A-shaped cross-section. The secondelongated passage 36 is open along its entire length on a side (bottom18) away from the first elongated passage. The separator 54 is acontinuous wall in the current embodiment, but can also bediscontinuous. The cross-sectional profile defines a channel 66 openalong one side (bottom 18) and defined between first and second opposedleg ends 68, 70. The leg ends define a gap 72 having a first width, andthe second passage defines a second width greater than the first widthand configured to closely receive a barrel portion 74 of the barrelassembly 30, such that installation of the barrel portion is denied bythe leg ends. The barrel portion has a barrel portion width greater thanthe first width.

FIGS. 6A, B & 7 illustrate the improved workpiece for producing afirearm 10 of the present invention at various stages of manufacture.FIG. 6A shows the workpiece after the first manufacturer has machinedthe raw extrusion profile of the workpiece shown in FIG. 3A to formselected limited features while preserving a denial feature configuredto prevent installation of at least one of the bolt assembly 38 and thebarrel assembly 30 in the workpiece as shown in FIGS. 3B, 5A. FIGS. 6B &7 shows the workpiece where the second manufacturer, the purchaser, hasadditionally machined the workpiece to remove the denial feature asshown by FIG. 5B and the dashed portions of FIG. 3C so the bolt assemblyand the barrel assembly can be installed in the workpiece. At thatpoint, the workpiece is legally a firearm.

Further machining of the workpiece 10 as shown in FIG. 6B creates barrelrelief cuts 58, barrel notch 60, and countersunk screw holes 62 as shownin FIGS. 6A & 7 to enable installation of the barrel assembly 30 byinserting the barrel assembly downward and rearward into the bottom 18of the workpiece as denoted by the dashed lines. The countersunk screwholes locate the screws 78 on the workpiece. The countersunk screw holesare deliberately machined out of axial alignment with screw holes 80present in the barrel portion 74 of the barrel assembly. Themisalignment pulls the barrel rearward and downward to ensure a solidconnection with the barrel notch 60 when the screws are tightened asindicated by the arrows extending down and to the rear in FIG. 6B.

FIGS. 8A-D illustrate the improved workpiece for producing a firearm 10of the present invention. More particularly, the workpiece has undergonemachining by both manufacturers to remove the denial feature so the boltassembly 38 and the barrel assembly 30 can be installed in theworkpiece. Sufficient clearance exists where needed so the first andsecond elongated passages 34, 36 can receive the bolt assembly andbarrel assembly so the workpiece can be assembled into a functioningfirearm 100.

FIGS. 9A-I illustrate various alternative embodiments of selectedprofiles of the improved workpiece for producing a firearm 200-1000.These are profiles produced by the first manufacturer machining theworkpiece to form selected limited features while preserving a denialfeature configured to prevent installation of at least one of a boltassembly and a barrel assembly in the workpiece. For all of theseselected profiles, the workpiece is still not legally a firearm and isidentical to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3B except where noted.In FIG. 9A, workpiece 200 has a small gap 202 that is insufficientlywide to permit installation of the bolt assembly 30 that can be widenedby the second manufacturer. In FIG. 9B, workpiece 300 has two legs 302,304 that obstruct installation of the bolt assembly that can be cut awayby the second manufacturer. In FIG. 9C, workpiece 400 has a separator402 with weakened portions 404, 406 on either side that obstructsinstallation of the bolt assembly that can be knocked out by the secondmanufacturer. In FIG. 9D, workpiece 500 has a separator 502 that is athinner, weakened portion that obstructs installation of the boltassembly that can be knocked out by the second manufacturer. In FIG. 9E,workpiece 600 omits the first elongated passage 34, which obstructsinstallation of the bolt assembly. The second manufacturer can createthe first elongated passage. In FIG. 9F, workpiece 700 has a separator702 with a downwardly extending leg 704 that obstructs installation ofthe bolt assembly and can be cut away by the second manufacturer. InFIG. 9G, workpiece 800 has a thinner, weakened, arcuate separator 802that obstructs installation of the bolt assembly that can be knocked outby the second manufacturer. In FIG. 9H, workpiece 900 has a loweredseparator 902 that obstructs installation of the bolt assembly that canbe cut away by the second manufacturer. In. FIG. 9I, workpiece 1000 hasa lowered separator 1002 that obstructs installation of the boltassembly that can be cut away by the second manufacturer. In the currentembodiments, all of the selected profiles include the interference 56protruding inwardly from the bottom right of the workpiece to interferewith an automatic sear 52 and prevent the trigger module 28 fromattaching to the finished workpiece when an automatic trigger group isimproperly present in the trigger module. The interference ensures thefunctioning firearm 100 cannot be converted to fully automatic fire,which would make the functioning firearm illegal, no matter whichselected profile was created by the first manufacturer. Furthermore, allof these selected profiles are identical to the embodiment illustratedin FIG. 3C after further machining by the second manufacturer to producethe finished workpiece. It should be noted that the interference 56 isan optional feature and may or may not be present in the raw profile, orit may be included or removed by the first or the second manufacturerdepending on the final configuration of the firearm. A rifle does notlegally require the interference, but a pistol must include theinterference to avoid being deemed an illegal configuration.

In the context of the specification, the terms “rear” and “rearward,”and “front” and “forward,” have the following definitions: “rear” or“rearward” means in the direction away from the muzzle of the firearmwhile “front” or “forward” means it is in the direction towards themuzzle of the firearm.

While current embodiments of a workpiece for producing a firearm havebeen described in detail, it should be apparent that modifications andvariations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the truespirit and scope of the invention. With respect to the above descriptionthen, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationshipsfor the parts of the invention, to include variations in size,materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly anduse, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art,and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawingsand described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by thepresent invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of theinvention.

I claim:
 1. A workpiece for producing a firearm configured to receive abolt assembly having a lower bolt portion including a bolt, and an upperportion joined to the lower bolt portion at a junction portion, theworkpiece comprising: an elongated body defined within a cross-sectionalprofile with a first elongated passage configured to receive the upperportion of the bolt assembly, and with a second elongated passageconfigured to receive the lower portion of the bolt assembly; and theelongated body having a separator between the first elongated passageand the second elongated passage and configured to prevent installationof the bolt assembly when the separator is present, and to enableinstallation of the bolt assembly when the separator is absent.